looking back three years

[okarol]

I was just looking through my email trying to find the email address of another kidney patient. She is a
young woman we met when Jenna first started dialysis. She's been on HD for about 13 years. I keep telling
her to come to IHD so she can meet all of you!
As I looked through messages I came across the one I sent out 3 years ago.
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Date:    Tue, 23 Dec 2003 18:58:57 -0800 (PST)
From:   "Karol Franks"   
Subject:   Jenna at Huntington Hospital

Jenna was hospitalized on Monday with acute kidney failure. Today they implanted a catheter in her artery in her neck.
She had 2 hours of dialysis. Hopefully she will feel better after the next dialysis treatment tomorrow. We hope she can
come home for Christmas. I am typing this quickly when I came home for a shower. This has all happened very quickly.
Keep her in your thoughts and prayers please.
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I felt so scared for her. It was heart wrenching watching her the few days before the dialysis began, wondering
if I could keep her alive one more day, she was so sick. I am so grateful for the care she got. I am grateful
for dialysis, because without it Jenna would have died 3 Christmases ago.
At first I thought that the dialysis was a curse. But I have learned a lot and know that it's a blessing that gave
Jenna a second chance.

~Karol

[Sluff]

This should inspire some of the new members here, that are just begining the long road of Kidney disease  and ESRD.  There is life after kidney failure.

[angieskidney]

I can only imagine what a mother goes through from what my mother has told me. You have to be strong and you are. It isn't just dialysis that has helped Jenna but you as a strong mother standing by her and sharing your strength. It is amazing how things change with time and how much the information here helps you along the way. Glad this Christmas is better than 3 years ago and hopefully January will turn out as well as we all are hoping it will! Good luck! And my prayers are with you and Jenna!